SHARE

Tax to fund Montrose rec center passes

After a number of fits and starts, Montrose voters have warmed to the idea of building a new multimillion-dollar recreation center, passing a measure Tuesday that should set the wheels in motion on the project.

Ballot Measure B proposed increasing the Montrose city sales tax 0.3 percent, raising the overall sales tax rate from 7.65 to 7.95 percent, to fund a recreation center estimated to cost about $25.5 million. The sales tax increase would sunset at the end of a 25-year lease purchase payment term.

Voters approved the measure by a margin of 2,972 for and 2,734 against.

A similar measure failed — 2,372 for and 2,971 against — in April 2012, one that proposed a 0.2 percent sales tax increase for 10 to 14 years.

Measure B supporters have said the 2012 measure failed, among other reasons, because plans were too indefinite; the 2012 proposal didn’t include a location for the recreation center. The 2014 measure proposed building the 70,000-square-foot recreation center on 26 acres at 16350 Woodgate Road, a property owned by the Montrose Recreation District.

Measure B also would pay for turning the pool at 25 Colorado Ave. into an indoor turf field house.

Tuesday’s general election also included a measure about whether the city may re-establish its right to provide broadband telecommunications services passed as well, 3,965 for to 1,417 against.

Three unopposed candidates elected to the Montrose City Council were David Romero, Rex Swanson and Judy Ann Files.